Rhode Island Ship Tokens

About This Coin

Bearing a distinctive ship design on the obverse and a seated figure on the reverse, Rhode Island Ship Tokens are among the most mysterious pieces in early American numismatics. Despite their traditional attribution to Rhode Island, these tokens were almost certainly manufactured in the Netherlands, as evidenced by the Dutch inscriptions and the presence of the VON prefix (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie association) on some varieties. Weighing 15 grams with a 32 mm diameter and plain edge, the tokens depict a three-masted sailing ship on one side, with a seated figure and the date (typically 1778 or 1779) on the reverse. The exact purpose of these tokens remains debated — they may have been satirical pieces commenting on the British evacuation of Rhode Island, commercial tokens related to Dutch-American trade during the Revolution, or propaganda pieces produced by one of the belligerent parties in the conflict. The Dutch manufacture is now generally accepted by scholars, though the intended circulation and precise commemorative purpose continue to generate scholarly discussion. Within the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series, Rhode Island Ship Tokens embody the international dimension of American revolutionary-era numismatics, where European manufacturers produced coins and tokens for the American market based on their own commercial and political motivations.